Butcher Block Island

This is the second iteration of this project. I can post picture of the first but they are pretty much the same except for the wood selection. I built an end grain cutting board for a friend and found it convenient to keep it on an island she had. But the storage was not very good and the legs kept getting in the way of the knife blocks and the utensils. I looked high a low to see if this design already existed, but I could find nothing. So I went to the drawing board and with some help from fellas much smarter than myself, we forged ahead and built this island. The knife storage is integrated into the center column and the shelves provide unrestricted access for utensil storage. I usually use a metal cup of sorts for the utensils. The finishing touch is a rail around the shelves. I put it on casters for mobility. The cutting board is 4” thick Maple and the base is Mahogany. The original design was built from all Beech. I know this is not designed for a family with young children, but it works well for my needs.

I like it as well, and think it would be great if you added wine glass holders and a lip around the middle shelf for wine bottles. How tall if the unit…and do you remove the cutting board or use it as is?

I have received a few suggestions before about the wine bottle option from friends and family. It still needs the “lip” around the middle shelf, just not certain what I want to use this time. Used a strip of aluminum about 4 in wide that went around the shelf except for where the kinves were in the front. Looked alright. I got some metal bins from IKEA for the utensils. The intent was for a pure cooking appliance. I can remove the block for cleaning and refinishing if needed, but leave it on for use. What you do not see is the 3mm thick stainless steal plate the block is resting on. I secure the plate to the center column from the top with 6 long screws. And then secure the block from the bottom at the corners.

The bottom has a 5mm thick steal plate for rigidity and to secure the castors. It is secured with 4 large bolts into the bottom of the column. Pretty sturdy construction and not light by any means. Feels solid and it is 38 inches to the top of the cutting board. The most interesting part of the construction was creating the slots for the knives during the construction of the center column. Had to do it on 4 or 5 stages. It was a blast to make, even the second time around.